Batavia, NY — Batavia Downs featured a pair of $13,500 top-class races on Saturday (Oct. 17) night, and two local favorites took home the bulk of those purses.
The Open Handicap Trot was contested first with El Toro Loco winning and going over $400,000 in lifetime earnings.
Shine All The Way (Dave McNeight III) led the field to the quarter in :29.1 as El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) sat a close second. As they rolled into turn two, Double Class (John Cummings Jr.) came flying up the outside and trotted alongside Shine All The Way to the half, around the clubhouse turn, and to three-quarters. At that station, Crazy Ritz (Jim McNeight Jr.) had pulled from sixth and moved three-wide to become dead even with Shine All The Way and Double Class heading into the last turn. At the same time, El Toro Loco was locked in tight on the pylons from fifth. Positions remained unchanged to the top of the stretch, where Crazy Ritz finally cleared. But El Toro Loco also finally found some racing room in the passing lane and flew home first by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.
It was the seventh win of the year for El Toro Loco ($7.70), and it pushed his lifetime bankroll to $401,474. The 7-year-old gelded son of Walner is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Alex Giuliani.
Then, in the Open Handicap Pace, Lip Reader A went gate-to-wire to score his 52nd career win.
Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) had things go his way and led by a gapped advantage through quarters of :29, :58.4 and 1:26.3 with Toreador GB (Gareth Dowse) trying to stay close in the pocket and Captain Paradise (Keving Cummings) making an outside bid heading to three-quarters. But the :27.4 third panel Lip Reader A posted stung the competition, and he opened up a 2-length lead going through the last bend. Lip Reader A cruised into the lane and was a wrapped-up winner at the line in 1:55.1.
Lip Reader A ($3.26) is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags and Team Rice Racing and trained by Maria Rice.
The Sulky Queens Ladies’ Driving Series made a stop at Batavia Downs on Saturday as a highlight of the “Night at the Races” breast cancer fundraiser to benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Two races were held, and the action produced some great finishes.
The first was won by Lauren Harmon and Skyway Ballistic (1:57, $3.22), who sat second throughout until seven-eighths, when she tipped and pulled away to a 2-length win. Skyway Ballistic is owned by El Dorado Stables and Mike Torcello and trained by Alex Giuliani.
The second was won by Nicky Ratledge and Mason Street (1:57.2, $14.12), who led every step of the way before turning for home and holding off the fast-closing 98-1 shot Stabler and Marianna Monaco, to win by a half length. Mason Street is owned and trained by Cassandra Johnson.
The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) was also on hand for two events on Saturday and featured some of the best amateur drivers in North America.
The first was won by Robert Ciavardini and Woodmere Rollndpop (1:59, $3.20), who took the lead past the half, opened up 4-1/2 lengths at three-quarters, and cruised home unchallenged. Woodmere Rollndpop is owned by Dave McNeight III and trained by Cassandra Johnson.
The second went to Joe Lee and Checkonwilliam GB (2:01.2, $2.80), who was a locked-in fourth to three-quarters but shook loose in deep stretch to win a four-horse photo by a nose. Checkonwilliam GB is owned by Lav Racing Stable and trained by Chris Petrelli.
All the participants of the Sulky Queens and the American Harness Drivers Club races made donations to support the fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.
Driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Alex Giuliani both posted hat tricks on Saturday.
Live racing at Batavia Downs will resume on Wednesday (Oct. 21) at 5 p.m.; there will be a $20,595 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5, which is offered in the 13th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia Downs can always be downloaded at the track’s website under the “Live Racing” tab.